New City Hall: How A Modern Building And Its Concrete Furniture Created Controversy In Toronto

New City Hall was the first modern, concrete civic building of its kind in the city of its kind in Toronto Canada.

It was designed by a Finnish architect named Viljo Revell. When the building opened in 1965, it stood out very prominently from Toronto’s traditional Victorian structures. The striking concrete design was carried throughout the building. It was even incorporated into the office furniture. Desks, coffee tables and cabinets all had concrete legs — and nearly everyone hated it, a lot. The public was angry. Controversy ensued. Someone even resigned.